HUNDREDS of patients waiting for an organ transplant will have to wait years for a law change after MSPs narrowly voted down a bill which would have saved lives.

The Transplantation Bill by Labour MSP Anne McTagart inspired by the Evening Times Opt For Life Campaign was rejected by 59 votes to 56.

During a debate at stage one of the Bill Public Health Minister Maureen Watt urged MSPs to reject the bill and back her plans to bring forward a government bill next year.

Several SNP backbenchers spoke in support of the Bill and voted against the government

Labour's Drew Smith accused Public Health Ms Watt of delaying a life-saving change her government is not opposed to with a "wrecking amendment."

The minister appeared to contradict herself by saying that the government could not support the bill 'in principle' at stage 1 despite supporting the principle of an opt-out system of organ donation.

The Labour MSP criticised SNP government ministers for voting against the bill despite publicly endorsing the Evening Times' own campaign for an opt-out system five years ago. Maureen Watt and Humza Yousaf were among the MSPs who pledged their support.

He said: "I could come right out and name the ministers who have supported this, but I won't.

"It is a source of great regret that the bill will not be given consideration due to a wrecking amendment by the government.

"People who have publicly endorsed this campaign, intend to vote against it.

"No one has every argued that soft opt-out will solve all the problems."

However, Mr Smith pledged that the Labour party would work with the government in bringing forward its own legislation.

The SNP's Kenny Gibson put forward an impassioned argument in support of the bill, saying that on October 8, 2012, the SNP government had itself, recommended a system of presumed consent after 43 people died that year waiting for a transplant.

He said: "There has been plenty of time to make progress.

"This is the time to stand up and be counted. Surely it's not beyond the ken of the government to make the necessary amendments."

Glasgow Kelvin SNP MSP, Sandra White, voiced support for the bill and praised Anne McTaggart for her "tenacity" in bringing it forward.

She said: "We can get into the nitty gritty at stage 2."

Labour MSP, Malcolm Chisholm, said evidence which showed that an opt-out system could generate an extra 70 donors was "compelling."

The SNP's Stewart Stevenson gave his backing to the Labour-led bill saying that anything which had the potential to increase organ donation "however meagre the chance" should be supported.

Closing the debate for Labour Jackie Baillie warned that delaying the bill would "cost lives." She accused Maureen Watt of failing to follow parliamentary process by refusing to consider amending the bill. She said there was "great public support" for the change.

She said: "80% of people who took part in the consultation said they were in favour.

"It is extremely disappointment that the minister is effectively refusing to participate in the normal parliamentary process.

"This is what stage 2 is for, to consider the detail.

"You are asking people to wait two or maybe four years for something to happen. Time is a luxury that those who are waiting for a transplant do not have.

"Delaying a decision is an extremely difficult position to defend."

"I want to make progress now. It's a life or death decision."

Anne McTaggart, who launched the bill two years ago, said, Scotland was on course for a 16% decrease in deceased donations this year.

She said: "Time is a luxury for those who are waiting. It has taken me two years to get to this point.

"Tragically not everyone who started this journey with us is here today. This bill is for them.

"Those who are waiting on a transplant want us to introduce an opt-out system. Not at some point in the future, but right here, now."

Major charities and opt-out supporters expressed disappointment at the result.

Dr Sue Robertson of the British Medical Association said: "It is disappointing that the Scottish Government is not persuaded to support the general principles of the bill. We believe that it could be appropriately amended at stage 2 and passed by the end of this Parliamentary session.

"People are dying whilst waiting for organs, so it is essential that swift action is taken."